Robert Kirkman, creator and writer of the groundbreaking, Eisner-Award winning The Walking Dead comic book series and graphic novels continues to break records in all of its incarnations. Wizard World and Skybound, Kirkman's imprint at Image Comics, have teamed to bring fans what they want, more of The Walking Dead! Now, all full-price attendees at every Wizard World event in 2013 will receive a limited-edition, exclusive cover variant of The Walking Dead #1.

A different superstar artist will create the variant cover art for each of the eight scheduled shows this year. Comic book writer/artist Michael Golden illustrates the first variant cover at Wizard World Portland Comic Con, Feb. 22-24 at the Oregon Convention Center. At each event, the cover artist will be on hand to sign fans’ copies. More cover artists will be announced shortly.

The exclusive The Walking Dead #1 editions will be produced in extremely limited quantities and are available to fans only while supplies last at each Wizard World convention.

“Wizard World cons have always been great events for The Walking Dead,” said Kirkman. “I’m excited to present the all-new #1 cover variant by the legendary Michael Golden at Portland Comic Con this year.”

John Macaluso, Wizard World CEO added, “With The Walking Dead #100 as the highest-selling comic book of last year, we are absolutely thrilled to have this exclusive book that started it all available to all our Wizard World fans, beginning in the Pacific Northwest. Giving it away for free to all paid attendees is our way of giving back to the fan community that has supported us!”

The Walking Dead graphic novels accounted for seven of the 10 bestselling titles of the year and were #1 overall for both 2011 and 2012.

Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus, stars of the AMC series based upon The Walking Dead will attend Wizard World Portland Comic Con. Comics legend Stan Lee, Happy Days star Henry Winkler, Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell, Homeland headliner Morena Baccarin and WWE® Superstar The Miz® are among the other headliners. They will be joined by a top-drawer collection of well-known artists and a variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions in the first event on Wizard World’s 2013 calendar and the first Wizard World event in Oregon.

Robert Kirkman's success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company's inception twenty years ago. Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur and Thief of Thieves. In 2010, Kirkman formed his own Image imprint, Skybound, which publishes his own work and Witch Doctor, Invincible Universe and Clone. Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and 2012. In April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He's the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit Emmy®-winning television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 122 countries and 37 languages. AMC is developing Thief of Thieves as a potential series with Kirkman serving as creator/executive producer and writer. Your destinations for all news and merchandise from Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles is www.Skybound.com and www.TheWalkingDead.com

About Skybound

Skybound is the home of Robert Kirkman's creator-owned work including his Eisner Award-winning comic book series, The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, Thief of Thieves and Clone as well as Witch Doctor and Invincible Universe. Since its inception, Skybound has created television shows, merchandise and a wide spectrum of platforms, games (The Walking Dead: Assault iOS app), and entertainment events (The Walking Dead Escape). Skybound's successes include the comic behind the hit Emmy®-winning television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 122 countries and 37 languages. AMC is developing Thief of Thieves as a potential series. Skybound/Kirkman frequently top the hardcover and paperback bestseller lists. Your destinations for all news and merchandise from Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles is www.Skybound.com or www.TheWalkingDead.com

About Michael Golden

Michael Golden is one of the world’s most popular comic artists, having provided artwork for G.I. Joe, The Adventures of Superman, Batman, The Micronauts, and many other groundbreaking series, including The ‘Nam. He is the co-creator of Rogue from the X-Men as well as Bucky O’Hare and Spartan X. He has served as an editor at DC Comics as well as Senior Art Director at Marvel Comics. In addition to continuing to create sequential stories, and covers, he also conducts classes in storytelling at venues around the world.

About Wizard World

Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.

The 2013 event schedule to date can be found at www.wizardworld.com.

Wizard World is a producer of pop culture and multimedia conventions across North America that markets movies, TV shows, video games, technology, toys, social networking/gaming platforms, comic books and graphic novels. It has the rights to the names, marks, domains, customer lists and production rights for a portfolio of pop culture and multimedia conventions.